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News & Music PowerSat, 25 May 2019 03:15:46 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.9106000025Though she abstained from voting, Woods still PUP Senatorhttp://lovefm.com/though-abstained-voting-woods-still-pup-senator/
Sat, 25 May 2019 03:15:46 +0000http://lovefm.com/?p=41095On Friday, April 12, Former Prime Minister Said Musa received a standing ovation from the UDP side of the gallery in parliament when he abstained from voting on the Referendum Bill. Musa had already made it clear that he supported the “yes” vote to forward the territorial dispute for final resolution at the International Court …

]]>On Friday, April 12, Former Prime Minister Said Musa received a standing ovation from the UDP side of the gallery in parliament when he abstained from voting on the Referendum Bill. Musa had already made it clear that he supported the “yes” vote to forward the territorial dispute for final resolution at the International Court of Justice. It was clearly an anomalous moment, and it was eclipsed by the senate meeting the following week during which PUP appointed Senator Valerie Woods had a choice to tow the party line for a ‘no’ vote or follow her conscience. She deliberated what would be her final swan song and abstained from voting. She too received applause from the Government side of the floor. Today we spoke to Woods and asked her if that seat in the senate is now secured.

Valerie Woods – Senator: “I think I have been very vocal as I try to be on most things and consistent in my view. I have said before in the Senate, long before there was even any talk about a Referendum that my appointment, like all other appointments in the Senate is at the pleasure of the person who appoints you. In my case that is the Leader of the Opposition so I am there until he determines that my services may no longer be required. I have gotten no indication of that and so I continue to serve.”

Jose Sanchez – Reporter: “So now that the opposition is supporting the Government’s amendments to the Maritime Areas Act and trying to be unified going forward. Is it then safe to assume then that you continue on as Senator?”

Valerie Woods – Senator: “I don’t think one has anything to do with the next, regardless of what occurs on whatever Bill in the Parliament, my appointment is at the pleasure of the Leader of the Opposition. That is the system we have and that is the system under which I work. I have always maintained and will continue to maintain that for as long as I am a Senator. I will remain consistent, I will try to do my best in representing for the people of Belize on what I think should be best practices and to make sure that things that are coming to the Senate, that we do our homework on it properly, ventilate it thoroughly, not for any one of our individual interests but for the reason why we are there. The Senate is one of those platforms that people of Belize get an opportunity to listen to the debate on matters of national importance with not as much the political rhetoric and partisan back and forth that you have seen in the House, I think people do appreciate listening to the Senate. As long as I am there I will continue to be consistent in my views and hold our government to account.”

]]>41095Mother of 2 dies in Traffic Accident on George Price Highwayhttp://lovefm.com/mother-2-dies-traffic-accident-george-price-highway/
Sat, 25 May 2019 03:15:25 +0000http://lovefm.com/?p=41083Last month the police commissioner addressed the issue of road traffic accidents that continue to plague our highways. Last night there was a massive RTA on the George Price Highway. 35-year-old, Immigration Officer, Jessica Heusner passed away during that Thursday night accident that left traffic backed up on the highway. Heusner was driving to Belize …

]]>Last month the police commissioner addressed the issue of road traffic accidents that continue to plague our highways. Last night there was a massive RTA on the George Price Highway. 35-year-old, Immigration Officer, Jessica Heusner passed away during that Thursday night accident that left traffic backed up on the highway. Heusner was driving to Belize City from Belmopan at around ten thirty when her SUV collided with a freightliner truck. The police department quickly responded to the scene between miles 11 and 12 on the George Price Highway. When the cops arrived at the scene at 10:45 p.m., they saw Heusner’s vehicle in the middle of the highway engulfed in flames. Two freightliner trucks which were headed in opposite directions were also on the road. One of the tow head’s driver-side rear wheel and rim were completely damaged. Because Heusner’s vehicle combusted upon impact with the tow-head, the fire department was called to the scene to quickly extinguish the fire. The Station Supervisor for the National Fire Service explained what the department encountered on the highway.

Kennet Mortis – Station Supervisor, National Fire Service: “We found the remains of an unidentified SUV fully engulfed in flames, we then got into operations extinguishing the blaze. We started our investigation which during that time we then learned that the driver of the vehicle, an unknown female was trapped in the vehicle and succumbed to the injuries of the fire. We had to do what we were called to do and it was an unfortunate tragedy. After the fire was extinguished, based on our findings and investigations we learned that vehicle was being driven at the time by an unknown female who was apparently coming from Belmopan en route to Belize City whereby she made an attempt to overtake a trailer and somehow ran into an oncoming trailer on the other side of the road. The head-on collision caused the vehicle to simultaneously burst into flames and that was where she succumbed to the injuries. Based on what we could pick up it was basically burned to a crisp, it was a gruesome sight and not one that you would want to indulge in, I am going to leave it at that.”

Jose Sanchez – Reporter:“Would it be the impact of the accident that would have caused her death or the subsequent fire?”

Kennet Mortis – Station Supervisor, National Fire Service: “It could have been a combination of both. I am going to leave that to the forensic to determine his ruling and his finding. Speed combined with the impact could have sent her into a trapped state, mangled vehicles and flesh always trap you between those elements and then the fire but like I said I am only putting it out there so the general populace can have an idea what metal vs. flesh can do. The medical practitioner will forward his finding regarding the actual cause of death.”

What we know about Jessica Heusner is that she is a single parent of two kids. She worked at the Immigration Department and she was well loved by friends and colleagues. Heusner was also a student. We spoke to one of Heusner’s UB professors who was first met her as a classmate some years ago. Dr. Candice Pitts recalled the times she met Heusner.

Dr. Candice Pitts: “Jessica and I initially met at St. John’s College Jr. College. We were classmates and schoolmates, we were in classes together. She was always a reserved person but she was always vocal in terms of her perspectives on different social, cultural and political issues. Then recently our paths crossed again at the University College of Belize where she was a student of two of my Literature classes. Again she was always insightful, I looked forward to reading her essays, also, I looked forward to her individual and personal input in the discussions that we would have in class. She was very strong in terms of her position on the empowerment of women in particular and the marginalized so I was really saddened by the news this morning that she was a victim in a traffic accident. That has been a really great loss for the University, community and academic community. The death is very untimely, I don’t think that anyone is ever prepared for death but this one was very shocking. We just really came to the end of the semester. She wasn’t in any of my classes this semester but she was in my class last semester. I could just imagine she probably just submitted her last essays and received her grades. I know that she was a mother, I know that she was a daughter, I know that she was a friend and ultimately a loved one, this is an unexpected loss. I really extend my condolences to all of her loved ones, to her family members, to her friends, to her coworkers and anyone who may have crossed paths with her. She was just one of those really beautiful beings that I really don’t have anything negative or anything bad to say about. She was Jessica, just a beautiful soul and I am really glad that I was able to share some special moments with her.”

Heusner was a career immigration officer and leaves behind two children. As per procedure, the police department has issued Notices of Intended Prosecution to both drivers of the freightliners.

]]>41083Senator returns from LGBT Meeting in Colombiahttp://lovefm.com/senator-returns-lgbt-meeting-colombia/
Sat, 25 May 2019 03:15:20 +0000http://lovefm.com/?p=41093As a senator and a member of Parliamentarians for Global Action, Valerie Woods serves as a member on that organization’s board of directors. The organization executes several programs that impact issues such as: gender, death penalty, women, ocean, conservation, armed and LGBT issues. Woods attended a meeting in Bogota, Colombia last weekend and today she …

]]>As a senator and a member of Parliamentarians for Global Action, Valerie Woods serves as a member on that organization’s board of directors. The organization executes several programs that impact issues such as: gender, death penalty, women, ocean, conservation, armed and LGBT issues. Woods attended a meeting in Bogota, Colombia last weekend and today she gave Love News an update on how she hopes Parliamentarians for Global Action can impact Belize.

Valerie Woods – PUP Senator:“In Bogotá Colombia, over the weekend which coincides with the date of the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. That weekend coincided with that date, there was a series of panels at this Annual Leadership Forum of where Parliamentarians with LGBT activists get together just to discuss progress, challenges and how to communicate with Parliamentarians about the issues that the LGBT Community is facing. I was asked by the Victory Institute which is an NGO I believe based in Washington if I would participate in one of the panels that assembled Caribbean Parliamentarians, how they work with LGBT activists and how that has been going so far. Since I have been appointed a Senator I have had the opportunity to meet LGBT activists not just in Belize but from around the world. One of the important lessons for me has always been that listening to people stories carries a lot of weight and should allow any Parliamentarian to appreciate the humanness of what is happening to people, especially people who are marginalized. In the Belize context as a Parliamentarian, it tugs at me every time when we say something publicly but we are not really practicing it in our official capacity as members of Parliament. In December of last year, the State of Belize signed onto several recommendations, first time ever accepted so many recommendations as apart of its universal periodic review on human rights and many of those had to do with addressing the issues of LGBT in Belize. I finally got a response on the U.P.R.recommendations, I got that from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and what their next steps are so I am in the process of reviewing that. I am very thankful that my many emails have been responded to by CEO Patt Andrews and his team there, that they are making an effort to not let my request go on deaf ears and that they responding to a Parliamentarian asking about next steps. I will definitely stay on the emails with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to see exactly how long it will take and what all it involves either by policy or by legislation on those many recommendations that they finally have accepted and agreed to. I am going to be optimistic in that, at least one area which is the Anti Discrimination Bill. By all indications, we should be participating in something coming to the Parliament hopefully sometime in this year.”

Woods says she hopes the anti-discrimination bill will be brought to the senate before year’s end and that bipartisan participation will also be encouraged.

]]>41093Quartet performs at the Mexican Cultural Institutehttp://lovefm.com/quartet-performs-mexican-cultural-institute/
Sat, 25 May 2019 03:15:08 +0000http://lovefm.com/?p=41097There is a concert tonight at the Mexican Cultural Institute in Belize City. The quartet will play different genres including baroque, classical and pop music. The concert tonight is free. We spoke to Peter Illavsky and Richard Thomas Leister about what concert goers can expect tonight. Peter Illovsky – Musician: “I am a musician, I …

]]>There is a concert tonight at the Mexican Cultural Institute in Belize City. The quartet will play different genres including baroque, classical and pop music. The concert tonight is free. We spoke to Peter Illavsky and Richard Thomas Leister about what concert goers can expect tonight.

Peter Illovsky – Musician:“I am a musician, I come from Austria Europe. We are doing a series of concerts at the Mexican Institute, the Mexican Embassy and tomorrow is going to be the last concert of the free concerts which we did. We are going to meet with musicians from Belize and musicians from throughout this lovely country. As a group of people we are to say the numbers: we have one violin, one cello, one trumpet, one piano, we have four singers and one guitar player so we have two parts in this program: the first one is Baroque and Classical music, the second one is Pop music. We will also have music by Queen but we perform without microphones, without pre-recording so it is really natural the way Freddie Mercury sang it when he first composed it. This will be a first in Belize.”

Richard Thomas Leister – Musician:“I have been playing the trumpet since I was in fourth grade maybe about ten years old. I have been playing for about forty-five years, professionally for about forty years. I did about thirty years of Broadway, style musicals in Chicago. I also played many Chamber music concerts as well on the Piccolo Trumpet. I was also a teacher at the University level as well as the little guys all the way up so what I bring to this program I don’t know, hopefully, some life experience.”

]]>41097Young mother and her 5-month-old baby missinghttp://lovefm.com/young-mother-5-month-old-baby-missing/
Sat, 25 May 2019 03:15:08 +0000http://lovefm.com/?p=41081A 23-year-old woman and her 5-month-old son are currently missing. According to 33-year-old William Reyes, he left his his ex-common law wife, Iris Yasmin Dubon Sarmiento (Dubon VO) and son, William Pablo Reyes the 2nd, at home on May 22nd, around 5 a.m. When he returned to his home at 9:30 a.m., Sarmiento and the …

]]>A 23-year-old woman and her 5-month-old son are currently missing. According to 33-year-old William Reyes, he left his his ex-common law wife, Iris Yasmin Dubon Sarmiento (Dubon VO) and son, William Pablo Reyes the 2nd, at home on May 22nd, around 5 a.m. When he returned to his home at 9:30 a.m., Sarmiento and the child were nowhere to be found. Sarmiento is about 5 feet 6 inches, and is of Hispanic descent with black hair. She is slim built and weighs about 140 pounds. The baby also has black hair, and is about 2 feet 1 inch in height and weighs about 16 pounds.

There is also a 17-year-old male who is currently missing. On May 23rd, around 3:35 p.m., 20-year-old Darwin Tzot reported that he has not seen his brother, Jason Tzot, since Sunday, May 19th. Jason was last seen wearing a long blue skinny jeans, a red sleeveless shirt and red Jordan slippers. He is of fair complexion, has dark brown eyes, a low haircut, and a tattoo on his chest which reads, “Only God can judge me.” He is also about 5 feet 3 inches tall.

If you have any information on any of these missing persons, you are asked to contact your nearest police station.

]]>41081Another lucky Belizean wins $15,000 with Scratch & Winhttp://lovefm.com/another-lucky-belizean-wins-15000-scratch-win/
Sat, 25 May 2019 03:14:49 +0000http://lovefm.com/?p=41086Another lucky person has won $15,000 with Scratch and Win. The game seems to be picking up among Belizeans who want to try their luck and see how much they can win. There are still other out there, though, that are not quite sure of how the game works. One of the Directors of Scratch …

]]>Another lucky person has won $15,000 with Scratch and Win. The game seems to be picking up among Belizeans who want to try their luck and see how much they can win. There are still other out there, though, that are not quite sure of how the game works. One of the Directors of Scratch and Win, Alex Gamero, stopped by our studio today to tell us more about the game.

Alex Gamero – Director of Scratch & Win: “There is a lot of different tickets, there are $1 tickets, there are $2 tickets and each one of those prize points has different games but if you notice all of them have the Scratch and Win yellow logo so they are operated by us. The game is very simple, you purchase a $1 ticket and if you match three prizes out of the six prizes under the scratch area you win that amount so, for example, the winner that we are going to hear her story in a little bit she found three $15,000 prizes so she wins $15,000. The same thing for the $2 ticket, just match three prizes and you win that prize. It doesn’t have to be in a straight line, it can be in any order. The $2 ticket has game one where you have the first chance to match three, there is game 2 where you have a second chance to match three prizes and then there is a bonus where anything you find under the bonus you automatically win. The $1 ticket is only one chance to match three prizes, for the $2 the highest prize is $15,000 and for the $1 ticket the highest prize is $5,000. Any prize up to $100 you can collect that at any agent. The prizes up to $500 you can collect at a super agent and anything over $500 you come to the main office at #40 Eve Street in Belize City. I would like to remind everyone to play responsibly, this is a fun game. It is just meant to have some fun and the second thing is you have to remember is that this is a lottery and you have to be over 18 to play so anyone that is over 18 we ask you to try it out and try your luck but you have to be 18.”

The lucky winner, Corozal Resident, Jennifer Franklin, also stopped by our studio to tell us how it felt to have the winning ticket.

Reporter: “You just won $15,000, how does that feel?”

Jennifer Franklin- Grand Prize Winner: “Super excited, it is just strange because it is the first time I have ever won such a big amount in any game I have ever played and I am just excited.”

]]>41086Woman and son reported missinghttp://lovefm.com/woman-son-reported-missing/
Sat, 25 May 2019 00:21:48 +0000http://lovefm.com/?p=41088A 23-year-old woman and her 5-month-old son are currently missing. According to 33-year-old William Reyes, he left his his ex-common law wife, Iris Yasmin Dubon Sarmiento and son, William Pablo Reyes the 2nd, at home on May 22nd, around 5 a.m. When he returned to his home at 9:30 a.m., Sarmiento and the child were …

]]>A 23-year-old woman and her 5-month-old son are currently missing. According to 33-year-old William Reyes, he left his his ex-common law wife, Iris Yasmin Dubon Sarmiento and son, William Pablo Reyes the 2nd, at home on May 22nd, around 5 a.m. When he returned to his home at 9:30 a.m., Sarmiento and the child were nowhere to be found. Sarmiento is Hispanic woman who is approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall. She is slim built and weighs about 140 pounds. There is also a 17-year-old male who is currently missing. On May 23rd, around 3:35 p.m., 20-year-old Darwin Tzot reported that he has not seen his brother, Jason Tzot, since Sunday, May 19th. Jason was last seen wearing a long blue skinny jeans, a red sleeveless shirt and a red Jordan brand slippers. He is of fair complexion, has dark brown eyes, a low haircut, and a tattoo on his chest which reads, “Only God can judge me.” He is also about 5 feet 3 inches tall. If you have any information on any of these missing persons, you are asked to contact your nearest police station.

]]>41088Belize and Guatemala Foreign Ministers meet at OAS Adjacency Zone Officehttp://lovefm.com/belize-guatemala-foreign-ministers-meet-oas-adjacency-zone-office/
Sat, 25 May 2019 00:17:44 +0000http://lovefm.com/?p=41078The May 8 referendum results have placed the Belize on a path that will lead to a legal wrangle with Guatemala at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), for final resolution. But before the legal fireworks take place, today a cordial meeting was held between the foreign ministers of both countries at the Organization of …

]]>The May 8 referendum results have placed the Belize on a path that will lead to a legal wrangle with Guatemala at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), for final resolution. But before the legal fireworks take place, today a cordial meeting was held between the foreign ministers of both countries at the Organization of American States Office at the Adjacency Zone between Benque and Melchor de Mencos, Guatemala. Belize’s Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington informed Sandra Jovel Polanco, Guatemala’s Foreign Affairs minister that phenomenal progress was made when Belizeans voted ‘yes’ to take the border dispute to the ICJ. In response to the news, Jovel formally congratulated Belize on the successful referendum. The real work has just begun for both countries and both ministers agreed to brief the members of the OAS next month in Washington D.C. as well as make arrangements to apprise the Group of Friends of the Belize-Guatemala process including the next steps to bring the claim before the ICJ. Also, present at the meeting were Ambassador Assad Shoman as Agent and Co-Agent Ambassador Alexis Rosado while Attorney Eamon Courtney and Attorney Leslie Mendez, who are also a part of the Belize’s Commission to the Hague, were absent from today’s meeting.

]]>41078Contraband carrots being importedhttp://lovefm.com/contraband-carrots-imported/
Sat, 25 May 2019 00:13:50 +0000http://lovefm.com/?p=41076A noted importation of carrots has been taking place and has raised concerns at the Ministry of Agriculture. The ministry sent out a release this morning informing consumers and farmers that the ministry did not give its approval for carrots to be imported and that as far as it is aware, the local farmers are …

]]>A noted importation of carrots has been taking place and has raised concerns at the Ministry of Agriculture. The ministry sent out a release this morning informing consumers and farmers that the ministry did not give its approval for carrots to be imported and that as far as it is aware, the local farmers are capable of providing the domestic market up to June, 2019. The carrot farmers are known to be in La Gracia, El Progresso and San Antonio in the Cayo District and Roseville in Stann Creek District. Other crops that are also in harvesting mode are romaine lettuce, onions and potatoes, which are also expected to last until the end of June. The release from the ministry ended, stating, “The mandate of the Ministry of Agriculture is to advocate and provide accessibility for farmers to supply the domestic market. Therefore, the Ministry encourages consumers to support the purchasing of local products and disapproves of the purchasing of contraband vegetables. The only time when the recommendation for importation is given is when there is a deficit in production and the local demand is not met.”

]]>41076Pallotti students to compete for Miss Campus Darlinghttp://lovefm.com/pallotti-students-compete-miss-campus-darling/
Fri, 24 May 2019 03:45:49 +0000http://lovefm.com/?p=41041Pallotti High School will be holding their annual Miss Campus Darling Pageant tomorrow night at the Bliss. Six young ladies will take the stage in hopes to win the title, and Love News caught up with them before the big event. Courtney Menzez – Reporter: “Friday night at the Bliss Center of Performing Arts six …

]]>Pallotti High School will be holding their annual Miss Campus Darling Pageant tomorrow night at the Bliss. Six young ladies will take the stage in hopes to win the title, and Love News caught up with them before the big event.

Courtney Menzez – Reporter: “Friday night at the Bliss Center of Performing Arts six beautiful young ladies will take the stage as they compete for the coveted Miss Campus Darling. The pageant is one of Pallotti’s prestigious events and today Love News visited the girls during one of their practice sessions.”

Marlette Lacayo – Religion Teacher, Pallotti High School: “We are having Miss Campus Darling, as we all know Pallotti High School is not regular, we don’t say Pallotti High School Pageant we say Miss Campus Darling. We will be having our pageant again this year, we will be having it on Friday the 24th of May. It will be held at the Bliss Auditorium and it will begin at 7 o’clock. The tickets are only $15 and we are asking everybody to come out and support, the proceeds will be used for the upkeep of the school. The ladies will come out introducing themselves and then they will take us on a journey of what it is that they want to be in the future. They will actually take the audience on that journey of where it will all begin and how they conceive it to end. Also, the ladies will be putting down their talent, I know that we have a variety of talent. I heard steel pan will be happening, dancing, singing and I am not sure if the painting will still be occurring but a variety of talents. Of course, no pageant is complete without the formal wear and the questions and answers.”

Marlette Lacayo – Religion Teacher, Pallotti High School: “It has been going on as far back as the early ’60s but there has been quite a reign of queens.”

Courtney Menzez – Reporter: “And the students are from all the forms or is it a specific form?”

Marlette Lacayo – Religion Teacher, Pallotti High School: “We have them from first through third. There was no fourth form that concluded this year because the fourth form students have something more exciting to deal with which is graduation right around the corner.”

Courtney Menzez – Reporter: “These six confident ladies have been practicing day in and day out for Friday. For many of them, this is a first-time experience and their introduction to the world of pageantry. What made you decide to become a contestant for Campus Darling?”

Chelsea Castro – First Form Student Contestant: “It is something that I wanted to do.”

Courtney Menzez – Reporter: “And are you excited to be apart of this?”

Chelsea Castro – First Form Student Contestant: “I am very excited.”

Courtney Menzez – Reporter: “What do you think about competing in pageants such as Miss Belize and Miss World, those types of pageants?”

Chelsea Castro – First Form Student Contestant: “If I would do it? I would totally be up for it.”

Courtney Menzez – Reporter: “Is this your first pageant?.”

Chelsea Castro – First Form Student Contestant: “Yes it is.”

Courtney Menzez – Reporter: “What have you been doing to prepare for it?”

Chelsea Castro – First Form Student Contestant: “Well keeping my education, being responsible because you have to be very responsible for these things. It is challenging but I made up for it, I like a challenge.”

Kerisha Welch – Third Form Student Contestant: “I am very excited about this pageant.”

Courtney Menzez – Reporter: “Is this your first time?”

Kerisha Welch – Third Form Student Contestant: “Yes”

Courtney Menzez – Reporter: “And do you go to a lot of pageants? Do you like them?”

Kerisha Welch – Third Form Student Contestant: “Once I went to Pallotti’s Pageant and I liked that one.”

Courtney Menzez – Reporter: “Why did you decide to enter into this pageant?”

Kerisha Welch – Third Form Student Contestant: “Well, I just wanted to try it out to see how it feels to be a contestant of the pageant.”

Courtney Menzez – Reporter: “How have you been preparing for it?”

Kerisha Welch – Third Form Student Contestant: “I have been practicing all day, every evening and on weekend sometimes we have practices. I also have a coach that coaches me, we practice saying our career speech, doing our introductory dance and our talent.”

Courtney Menzez – Reporter: “What is your talent?”

Kerisha Welch – Third Form Student Contestant: “My talent is the dance.”

Courtney Menzez – Reporter: “Come out and show these young aspiring ladies some support. The event will be at the Bliss at 7 PM and entrance is only $15. Join the contestants as they take you on their journey to the crown and find out who will be the next Miss Campus Darling. Reporting for Love News I am Courtney Menzez.”

During the pageant, there will be several other titles the girls can win, such as Miss Photogenic.